Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is focused on continuing his improvement for Everton as he does not want to put additional pressure on himself with the World Cup looming.

With Joe Hart struggling for a first-team place at West Ham , it would appear Pickford and Stoke ’s Jack Butland, who has had his injury problems over the last 18 months, are likely to be vying to be Gareth Southgate’s number one in Russia.

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It was a result which stretched Sam Allardyce ’s unbeaten record to six matches - not counting the win over West Ham, which he watched from the stands - but the new manager was indebted to his goalkeeper for a string of saves to deny Pedro and Eden Hazard .

Asked about his World Cup chances, the 23-year-old said: “It is still a long way to go. I have to keep putting performances in for Everton. I cannot control anything else.

“The main thing is making sure I am on the plane because that will be a great experience for myself.

“There is loads of competition, that is why you cannot think about that too much.

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“I always want to improve and even if that wasn’t the carrot (England number one) then I would want to keep improving for myself.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself whereby I am thinking if I am not performing I won’t be in the England squad.”

A number of factors - Hart’s drop in form and Butland’s inconsistent fitness record are two - have aligned to improve Pickford’s credentials, and he accepts that.

“Yes, definitely. Hopefully when March comes round I will get an opportunity to play again,” he said, speaking ahead of Everton’s Boxing Day trip to West Brom . “There are two tough games (against Holland and Italy) and what will be will be.

“If that is playing in a World Cup for England, that will be the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

Allardyce’s arrival at Goodison Park is also a major positive for Pickford.

The former England manager has immediately made the team hard to beat and that is reflected in five clean sheets in the seven matches since it became known he was to be the permanent replacement for Ronald Koeman .